search-and-rescue
Finding lost people
Search-and-rescue refers to operations that locate and recover people in distress—lost hikers, avalanche victims, survivors of shipwrecks or plane crashes.
The term functions as a compound modifier: search-and-rescue teams, search-and-rescue helicopters, search-and-rescue dogs.
Often abbreviated SAR.
The operations may be conducted by military, coast guard, or volunteer organizations.
Rotary-wing aircraft
- stretcherPortable frame for casualties
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
- ropeThick twisted fibers
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
radio · beacon · flare · drone · litter · carabiner · zodiac · winch
One still alive after
- strandedLeft without means to leave
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- castawayShipwrecked and stranded person
- trappedUnable to escape
casualty · overdue · disoriented · hypothermic · dehydrated · unresponsive · located · recovered
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- mountainTall natural landmass
- maritimeOf the sea
- urbanPertaining to cities
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
avalanche · backcountry · coastal · offshore · alpine · desert · jungle · forest
One who replies
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- handlerOne who manages something
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
- technicianSkilled practical worker
coordinator · spotter · diver · climber · pilot · crew · medic · tracker
Purpose-driven task
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- extractionAct of removing
- evacuationRemoval from danger
locate · recover · response · mobilization · command · staging · sweep · perimeter
helicopter
Rotary-wing aircraft
GPS · radio · beacon · flare · drone · litter · carabiner · zodiac · winch · whistle
survivor
One still alive after
- strandedLeft without means to leave
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- castawayShipwrecked and stranded person
trapped · casualty · overdue · disoriented · hypothermic · dehydrated · unresponsive · located · recovered · airlifted
wilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
cave · avalanche · backcountry · coastal · offshore · alpine · desert · jungle · forest · river
responder
One who replies
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- handlerOne who manages something
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
technician · coordinator · spotter · diver · climber · pilot · crew · medic · tracker · specialist
mission
Purpose-driven task
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- extractionAct of removing
evacuation · locate · recover · response · mobilization · command · staging · sweep · perimeter · triage
search-and-rescuehunter-killer
One who tracks and eliminates
manhunt · assassination · extermination · pursuit · combat mission
search-and-rescueprevention
Stopping something before occurring
patrol · disaster preparedness · preventive measures · surveillance · reconnaissance
search-and-rescueabandonment
Act of leaving permanently
leaving for dead · desertion · leaving behind · neglect · non-intervention
search, rescue, searches, searched, searching, searcher, searchers, searchable, rescues